RELI Group has named Merri-Ellen James client relationship executive; she brings over 20 years of experience from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, where she led initiatives in health informatics, program integrity and Medicare and Medicaid operations.
In her new role, James will work with federal health agencies to strengthen partnerships, advance modernization and align solutions with agency priorities. She has led cross-agency collaborations, improved interoperability and implemented fraud prevention strategies that shaped CMS operations nationwide.
“Merri-Ellen’s proven leadership in federal healthcare will be key as we strengthen RELI’s partnerships with agencies and deliver solutions that drive modernization,” said Vishal Tulsian, president and COO of RELI Group. “Her experience shaping national initiatives at CMS will help our clients improve outcomes, reduce burden and advance their missions.”
James most recently served as director of the Division of Implementation and Innovation in CMS’s Office of Health Informatics and Interoperability. She also held senior leadership roles in CMS’s Office of Burden Reduction and Health Informatics and the Center for Program Integrity, and brings private sector experience in pharmaceutical contracting, global health intelligence and product licensing.
She earned a Master of Science in interdisciplinary science from Johns Hopkins University and a Bachelor of Science in nutrition from California Polytechnic University, Pomona.